Household Spending during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

The 1918 influenza outbreak was the deadliest pandemic of the twentieth century. Analysis of a 1918/9 cost-of-living survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals significant differences in household spending in ninety-nine cities at different stages of the pandemic. On average, households surveyed later in the pandemic spent about $100, or 6 percent, less than households surveyed earlier, reflecting corresponding differences in average income. The most substantial spending reductions occurred for durable goods and services, driven by changes in both prices paid and quantities purchased.